Musical instrument



(No Model.)

H. S. SARONI. MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

No. 468,265. 'Patented Feb. 2, 1892.

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'UNITED STATESv PATENT OFFICE.

HERRMAN S. SARONI, OF MARIETTA, OHIO.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 468,265, dated February 2, 1892.

Application iiled January 26, 1891. Serial No. 379,348- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERRMAN S. SARONI, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marietta, in the county of Washington and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Musical Instrument, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in zithers, which are ordinarily played by direct contact of the iingers. with the strings, the thumbof the right hand being armed with a metal hook, and which lack a complete chromatic scale, thus limiting the harmonies otherwise possible.

rPhe object of. my invention is 'to-furnish an unbroken chromatic scale of tones and by means of keys to enable any pianist to play it at once without special instruction. I attain l these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical section front view. Figs. 2 and 3 represent different positions of the mechanism; and Fig. 4 is a vertical seclion of a modiiied apparatus, similar letters referring to similar parts.

A represents a key similar to those of an organ or piano, with suitable arrangement for dampers. (Not shown in the drawings.)

, B is a bracket with openings b acting as guides.

C is a square rod with pin c,surrounded by coiled spring c.

D, Figs. l, 2, and 3, is a strip of springbrass or other suitable material attached to the rod C and so shaped that it yforms the cam d, the curve d terminating ina point CZ, the whole being technically called iingeix D, Fig. 1l, represents a similar apparatus made of wood or simi-lar material, differing from Figs. l, 2, and 3 in that it is hinged at d to the rod C and having the spring C E is a strip of wood either separate or a continuation of the bracketwall B, upon which, at e, is pivoted the device F, representing a combination of lever and pawl, (technically trigger,) terminating in the points f, f'. and f"- G represents a string, of metal, silk, or catgut, stretched between two bridges of a sounding-board (not hereshown) and running parallel to the key A.

The action of the mechanism is as follows:

Pressing upon the key A the nger D, owing p to its cam d and the trigger F, is forced against and past the string Gr, allowing the latter to vibrate and clearing it in its return upward as soon as the pressure upon A is released and the spring c is allowed to exert its power. Fig. l shows the initial position of both iinger D and trigger F. Fig. 2 shows the finger D in contact with the spring G and the position assumed by the trigger F. Fig. 3 shows the position of trigger and finger after contact. The office of the trigger is twofold, the point f determining the moment when the cam CZ shall trip from f, and the point f pressing against the curve d', causing the trigger to return to its initial position.

When the iinger is made of wood and hinged to the rod C, the form of finger and trigger must necessarily be modied, as the former will need a spring of some kind clm'to force it back to its original position after having been dislodged by the trigger. (See Fig. 4.)

It is obvious that other modifications of form and material may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. The finger may be attached directly to the key. It may be made of a combination of wood and metal. The trigger may be actuated by springs and thus become a simple lever; but whatever the form of the one or theother, they must be formed so that the finger after snapping the string must recede, so as not to impede the vibration, and the trigger yor lever must allow the return of the finger to its initial position.

Having now fully described my invention, what I desire toclaim and secure isl. In a mechanism for picking zithers, the trigger F, provided with points f f f, constructed and arranged to operate substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the trigger F and finger D with the rod O, the springs c 61", and the key A, for the purpose herein specified.

3. The combination of the key A, or a series of such keys, the rod C, the iingerD,andv the trigger F with aseries of strings stretched over the sounding-board of a shallow or zither body, for the purpose herein set forth.

HERRMAN S. SARONI. Witnesses: Y

S. J. HATHAWAY, THOMAS EWART.

IOC 

